Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when appointing members to state boards, commissions, or similar bodies established by law, the appointing official (such as the Governor, Senate President, or Assembly Speaker) must prioritize achieving racial and gender diversity that reflects New Jersey’s population. The goal of diversity becomes a primary consideration for all appointments made after the bill’s effective date, unless it conflicts with specific circumstances or the law creating the body. The bill defines "gender" to include gender identity and "race" as based on physical characteristics or shared ancestry. This policy change directly affects how officials select members for these state entities, aiming to improve representation without mandating specific quotas.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a four-year "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" within the Department of Education to provide funding for schools. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and "renaissance schools" (a New Jersey term for publicly funded alternative schools) seeking to expand STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education. The program awards competitive grants for three specific areas: project-based learning (student-led STEM projects), afterschool STEM (after-class programs like clubs), and out-of-school STEM (non-classroom activities like workshops). Grants must supplement, not replace, existing STEM funding, and schools must submit detailed plans for program design, student recruitment, teacher support, and long-term sustainability. Funding comes from annual state appropriations and private donations, administered through a new "STEM Scholars Grant Fund."

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a fourth-degree crime for a landlord or property owner to knowingly rent a dwelling that violates housing safety regulations (an "illegal occupancy") and causes serious injury or death to someone. It directly affects landlords who rent properties failing to meet health/safety codes, zoning rules, or housing standards. Violators face up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law does not replace existing civil penalties, such as requiring landlords to cover tenant relocation costs under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt a policy setting temperature standards for classrooms and school facilities. The policy must ensure temperatures support learning by designating staff to monitor compliance, creating protocols for extreme temperatures, and aligning with existing indoor air quality standards. School boards must also identify permitted temperature adjustments that follow building and fire codes. The state education and health departments will jointly create guidance to help schools implement these requirements, effective July 1 after the bill passes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a quality-based reimbursement system for registered family child care providers participating in the state's subsidized child care program and the Grow NJ Kids quality rating initiative. It directly affects family child care providers who serve low-to-moderate income families and have earned a quality rating through Grow NJ Kids. The key mechanism is providing enhanced reimbursements to higher-rated providers, replacing the current flat-rate system with payments tied to quality standards. DHS must also seek federal approval to maintain funding for these subsidized child care programs under the new system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords who rent space to child care facilities (like daycares or preschools) to install and maintain lead-removing water filters at all water outlets used for drinking, food prep, or baby formula if they previously refused to allow water system replacement of lead pipes. Landlords must install filters certified to meet safety standards (like NSF/ANSI 42/53), maintain them, and annually certify compliance to the environmental agency. Failure to comply can result in daily fines of up to $500, and tenants can force rent into court-ordered escrow until filters are installed. If the landlord's refusal causes children or staff to have elevated lead levels, they face unlimited financial liability for damages.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A856 establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch, replacing the current State Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The bill transfers existing diversity functions from the Department of Treasury and the Division on Civil Rights to the new department, requiring state agencies to develop annual diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility plans. It also mandates that entities receiving state development subsidies or financial assistance must create and implement strategic diversity plans detailing their efforts to promote diversity in hiring, procurement, and business opportunities. The commissioner of DDEI will oversee these requirements, coordinate statewide initiatives, and ensure compliance with diversity standards across state government and recipient entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for heroin and fentanyl-related crimes by lowering the quantity thresholds that trigger higher offense levels. For example, possessing 10 grams or more of heroin (previously 5 ounces) now constitutes a first-degree crime, while fentanyl-related offenses now require only 5 grams (previously 1 ounce) to reach the highest penalty level. The bill also establishes new criminal offenses for "heroin mixtures" (heroin combined with other controlled substances) and expands drug court eligibility to some first-degree offenders who are not drug distributors, allowing them to enter treatment programs instead of facing prison time. These changes aim to address the growing opioid crisis through both stricter penalties and expanded treatment options.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and nonpublic schools with lunch programs in New Jersey to gradually expand free lunch eligibility over a five-year period, eventually providing free lunch to all students regardless of income or federal eligibility. Starting with the 2023-2024 school year, schools must provide free lunch to students from families with incomes between 186-199% of the federal poverty level, with the income threshold increasing each year until all students qualify by the 2028-2029 school year. The state would provide funding to school districts to cover the costs of serving free lunch to students who are federally ineligible but meet the income criteria. The bill also includes reporting requirements for schools to track eligibility and income levels of students receiving free lunch, and mandates that schools take steps to minimize program costs while maintaining nutritional standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1428) changes the earliest date for housing units to qualify for "credits without controls" under New Jersey's Fair Housing Act. It updates the requirement from housing built/rehabilitated after April 1, 1980, to include units constructed or rehabilitated starting January 1, 1948 (the date of the current state constitution). This directly affects New Jersey municipalities required to meet fair share housing obligations for low- and moderate-income households. The key mechanism allows municipalities to count older affordable housing units toward their fair share credit, expanding the pool of eligible housing for compliance calculations. The change aligns with the "Mt. Laurel" housing obligation framework, giving credit for all affordable housing built since 1948.